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Oxeye Daisy
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Oxeye Daisy

Leucanthemum vulgare

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameOxeye Daisy
DescriptionClassic wildflower with bright white petals radiating around golden-yellow center disc. Cheerful blooms on slender stems above basal rosette of dark green leaves. Blooms profusely in summer meadows and roadsides. Easy to grow but invasive in some regions, spreading through seeds and rhizomes. The traditional 'loves me, loves me not' flower of childhood games.
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusLeucanthemum
TribeAnthemideae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr ⊕ ⚥ K(pappus) C(5) A(5) G(2)

Ebracteate, radially symmetrical, bisexual, calyx modified to pappus or absent, 5 fused petals (ray florets white, disc florets yellow), 5 stamens fused into tube, 2 fused carpels with inferior ovary. Composite flower head

Features
  • Name 'Oxeye' from large, flat yellow disc resembling ox's eye. Traditional flower for 'loves me, loves me not' petal-plucking game. About 70 Leucanthemum species. Considered invasive weed in North America, Australia
  • Flowers 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) across. 20-30 white ray petals around flat yellow disc. Solitary blooms on stems. Blooms late spring through summer (May-September). Each flower lasts 5-7 days
  • Herbaceous perennial. Basal rosette of dark green, spoon-shaped leaves. Flowering stems erect, unbranched. Spreads by rhizomes and seeds. Self-sows readily. Can form dense colonies. Considered noxious weed in some areas
  • Grows 6-32 inches (15-80 cm) tall. Spread 12-18 inches. Lifespan 2+ years as perennial. Propagated from seed or division. Germinates easily. Fast-spreading once established
  • Native to Europe and temperate Asia. Now naturalized worldwide in temperate regions including North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. Found in meadows, pastures, roadsides, disturbed areas
  • Requires full sun (6-8 hours). Thrives in poor to average, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Low maintenance. Hardy zones 3-9. Can become invasive - check local regulations
  • Attracts bees, butterflies, beneficial insects. Good cut flower. Young leaves edible in salads. Used in herbal medicine for wounds, skin conditions. Deer resistant
  • Symbolizes innocence, purity, new beginnings. Popular in wildflower meadows and cottage gardens. Easy for beginners. WARNING: Invasive in many regions - can crowd out native plants. Banned in some areas

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificLeucanthemum vulgare
English (Alternate)Marguerite Daisy, Dog Daisy, Moon Daisy, Field Daisy, White Daisy
Hindiसफेद गुलबहार (Safed Gulbahar), ऑक्साई डेज़ी (Oxeye Daisy)
Tamilவெள்ளை டெய்சி (Vellai Daisy), காட்டு டெய்சி (Kattu Daisy)
Teluguతెల్ల డైసీ (Tella Daisy), ఆక్స్‌ఐ డైసీ (Oxeye Daisy)
Malayalamവെള്ള ഡെയ്‌സി (Vella Daisy), കാട്ടുപൂവ് (Kattupuvu)
Kannadaಬಿಳಿ ಡೈಸಿ (Bili Daisy), ಹುಲ್ಲು ಹೂವು (Hullu Hoovu)
Sanskritश्वेत पुष्पम् (Shveta Pushpam), गोनेत्र पुष्प (Gonetra Pushpa)
Bengaliসাদা ডেইজি (Shada Daisy), গরুর চোখ ফুল (Gorur Chokh Phul)
FrenchMarguerite, Grande marguerite, Leucanthème
RussianНивяник обыкновенный (Nivyanik obyknovennyy), Поповник (Popovnik)
SpanishMargarita, Bellorita, Margarita común
GermanMargerite, Wucherblume, Wiesen-Margerite

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.